18. November, 2014Uncategorized

You requested it, and here it is – my list of movies that I recommend for their outstanding job in doing what art is supposed to do.  What is art supposed to do, you ask?  Give glory to God, and inspire us to be the best version of ourselves.  This is by no means a complete list, and some movies listed here I do not think are suitable for all audiences, so viewer discretion is advised!  They should all be suitable for middle schoolers.  Have an idea for a movie that should be added to the list?  Write me a note and I’ll check it out!

1) “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” (2005).  Wonderful film that brings to life one of C. S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia.  Notable for its excellent depiction of the Paschal Mystery, childlike wonder, reverence for the holy, the power of beauty, and the importance of living your vocation among other things!  The two sequels try to follow suit, but do not live up to the first movie’s ability to capture the magic of Lewis’ world.

2) “Thor” (2011).  Perhaps one of the best movies I know at depicting the importance and nature of humility and the redemptive nature of suffering in an easy to understand way.  Not suitable for young viewers because of violence.

3) “Amazing Grace” (2006).  Fascinating story based on the work of William Wilberforce in 18th century England to make the slave trade illegal.  In the process tells of one man’s spiritual journey to find his vocation, and the courage to live it.  Not suitable for young viewers because of some disturbing scenes and smatterings of language.

4) “The Lion King” (1994).  Brilliant tale of a son who comes of age by accepting his royal vocation.  Concepts such as God as Father, the priesthood, and eternal life play important roles in this inspirational film.

5) “The Prince of Egpyt” (1998).  While not entirely scripturally accurate, this movie does an excellent job of portraying the emotional struggles of Moses, as well as a number of other figures from the book of Exodus. The movie shows God’s liberation of His people with beautiful yet powerful animation, and is rated PG for some violence and intense emotional drama.  Wonderful musical score too!

6) “The Giver” (2014).  Fascinating futuristic story about what would happen if mankind tries to build a ‘perfect society’ without God.  Notable for its positive portrayal of the value of all human life, and the value of sacrifice in order to defend and preserve such life.  PG-13 for some intense scenes; not for young viewers.

7) “Joseph King of Dreams” (2000).  Made by the creators of ‘Prince of Egypt’, this film shares the same excellent animation, great music, and overall faithfulness to the spirit of the Bible, if not word-for-word accuracy.  Portrays the life of Israel’s favorite son in a way that is both child-friendly as well as compelling to older viewers.

More to come!